Recombinant Erythropoietin for the Treatment of Anemia in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Some patients with inflammatory bowel disease have anemia that is refractory to treatment with iron and vitamins. A lack of erythropoietin may be important in the pathophysiology of anemia associated with inflammation, 1 , 2 if deficiencies in iron, cobalamin, and folic acid have been ruled out. Erythropoietin is the primary growth factor regulating the proliferation and maturation of erythroid precursor cells. 3 Proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor α, and interferon γ, are produced in increased amounts by peripheral-blood monocytes and mononuclear cells of the intestinal lamina propria in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. 4 – 7 Such cytokines can contribute to the . . .